Book Review 📚 Triggers: Creating Behaviors that Last, by Marshal Goldsmith

Triggers: Creating Behaviors That Last – Becoming the Person You Want to Be by Marshall Goldsmith is a powerful book that delves deeply into the psychology of behavior change. Goldsmith, a renowned executive coach, shares his insights on how to create lasting change in our lives and become the person we want to be.

One of the key themes of the book is that behavior change requires a conscious effort on our part. Goldsmith explains that our environment and the people around us can trigger certain behaviors, both positive and negative. He uses the term “triggers” to describe these environmental cues that can influence our behavior. By becoming aware of our triggers and taking action to modify them, we can create new habits and behaviors that will serve us better.

Outside of our environment, our internal beliefs that can stop change. An awareness of these beliefs, along with self-reflection, can turn these beliefs into positive triggers for success. These beliefs include:

1. “I have willpower and won’t give in to my triggers.” This belief can be problematic because it assumes that willpower alone is enough to overcome triggers and change behavior, when in reality willpower is a limited resource that can be depleted quickly.
2. “I’m right and others are wrong.” This belief can prevent us from being open to feedback and new ideas, and can make it difficult to make changes in our behavior.
3. “I’m a victim of my environment.” This belief can make us feel powerless to change our circumstances, and can prevent us from taking action to modify our environment and our behavior.
4. “I’m too busy and don’t have time to change.” This belief can be a convenient excuse for avoiding the hard work of behavior change, and can prevent us from making progress toward our goals.
5. “I’ve tried before and failed, so why bother trying again?” This belief can be a self-fulfilling prophecy that prevents us from making new attempts at behavior change and can keep us stuck in unhelpful patterns.

Goldsmith suggests that these beliefs can be overcome by adopting a growth mindset, being open to feedback and new ideas, and developing a sense of accountability to ourselves and to others. By doing so, we can create lasting change and become the person we want to be.

The writing style of the book is direct and practical, with Goldsmith offering a wealth of actionable advice and exercises that help to implement his ideas. He also emphasizes the importance of accountability, both to ourselves and to others, in order to stay on track and achieve our goals.

A tip that Goldsmith suggests to drive personal accountability is to ask the five questions below at the end of each day. He offers some interesting research data (although anecdotal at best) conveying the efficacy of these questions and goal achievement.

1. Did I do my best to set clear goals today?
2. Did I do my best to make progress toward my goals today?
3. Did I do my best to find meaning and purpose in my work today?
4. Did I do my best to be happy today?
5. Did I do my best to be fully engaged in my interactions with others today?

As a sales professional, I found this book to be incredibly valuable. Sales is a highly competitive field, and success often requires a combination of skill, discipline, and perseverance. Goldsmith’s insights on behavior change are directly applicable to the sales profession, as we constantly face challenges and opportunities that can trigger positive or negative behaviors. By developing greater awareness of our triggers and consciously modifying our behavior, we can become more effective salespeople and achieve greater success.

One important takeaway from the book is the importance of setting achievable goals. Goldsmith emphasizes that small, incremental changes can lead to significant improvements over time. By setting specific, measurable goals and tracking our progress, we can build momentum and create lasting change in our behavior.

Another key lesson from the book is the importance of humility and openness to feedback. Goldsmith encourages readers to seek out constructive feedback from others and to be open to criticism. By doing so, we can identify areas for improvement and make the necessary changes to become better versions of ourselves.

Overall, I highly recommend Triggers: Creating Behaviors That Last – Becoming the Person You Want to Be to anyone looking to create positive change in their lives. While the book is not without its flaws, particularly in its somewhat repetitive structure, the insights and advice it offers are invaluable. As a sales professional, I have found the concepts and strategies outlined in the book to be directly applicable to my work, and have seen tangible improvements in my sales results as a result of implementing Goldsmith’s advice.

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Following are ten reflection questions based on my reading. These questions are designed to facilitate reflection on the key concepts and strategies outlined in the book, and to help you apply them to your own professional development and career goals.

1. What triggers have I identified in my own life that influence my behavior, both positively and negatively?
2. How can I modify my environment to support positive behavior change and eliminate triggers that lead to negative behavior?
3. What specific, measurable goals can I set for myself to create lasting change in my behavior?
4. How can I hold myself accountable to these goals and monitor my progress?
5. What is my mindset toward feedback, and how can I become more open to constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement?
6. How can I develop a sense of humility and acknowledge that I don’t have all the answers?
7. How can I cultivate a growth mindset and approach behavior change as an opportunity for learning and development?
8. How can I build stronger connections with others and seek out support and guidance in my behavior change efforts?
9. What role does urgency play in my behavior, and how can I manage it more effectively?
10. How can I find meaning and purpose in my work, and use it as a source of motivation and inspiration for behavior change?

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